Cookie levels
Kentico classifies cookies into several levels according to their purpose. The levels allow you to set cookie levels for users. The following are the default levels available in the cookie API (CMS.Helpers.CookieLevel class):
|
Cookie level |
Description |
|
None (-1000) |
Absolutely no cookies are allowed, including the cookie that stores the cookie level selected for users. This makes sense only if you want to disable absolutely every cookie by default. |
|
System (-100) |
This level allows the session cookie (due to security on postback), and CookieLevel cookie which remembers the cookie level selected by the user. In terms of the end user and the Cookie law, this means “Cookies are not allowed”. |
|
Essential (0) |
Cookies which are required for all website functionality needed by site visitors. This includes authentication, language selection, votes in polls, etc. From the visitor’s perspective, this means “Allow only cookies that I may need, but do not track me”. |
|
Editor (100) |
Cookies which are needed for the administration interface to work correctly. For example used to track the selected view mode, remember tabs and sliders, etc. |
|
Visitor (200) |
All cookies that are not assigned to an explicit level (which also includes your custom cookies if you use any) are considered to be cookies identifying the visitor, i.e. user tracking cookies, which are not really needed, but are useful for the site owner if using EMS. |
|
All (1000) |
This is a system level, that allows all cookies, no matter what their level is. From the site visitor’s perspective this means “Allow all cookies now and in the future”. |
The numbers associated with each cookie level are integer constants, which allow you to further customize the levels or add custom levels. The levels “None” and “All” have an absolute value of 1000 to provide enough space for future updates or custom levels.
For simplicity, there are 3 main levels, which represent the choices offered to visitors when asking for consent to use cookies:
|
Simplified cookie level |
Corresponding API level |
Description |
|
No cookies |
System |
Enables the minimum cookies required for the website to work, and remembers whether the user allows cookies or not. |
|
Only essential cookies |
Essential |
Enables all cookies required for website functionality, but no tracking cookies. |
|
All cookies |
All |
Enables all cookies used on the website. |
These three levels are also used in the provided cookie web parts.
Automatic cookie consent for administrators and editors
If a user signs in to the Kentico administration interface, cookies are automatically enabled to provide full editing functionality. The system assumes that working in the administration interface identifies a user as staff, so there is no need for cookie consent.